# US 2006/0085683 A1 · System and method for managing computer networks

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2006/0085683 A1
- Document ID: US20060085683A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/244,978
- Filed: 2005-10-06
- Published: 2006-04-20
- Earliest claimed: 2002-06-12
- Assignees: EMC Corporation
- Inventors: Howard Green; Donald Deel; Marty Wexler; Michelle Dimon; Thanh Trac Phan; Trac Binh Phan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060085683A1

## CPC

- H04L 41/0873: Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
- H04L 41/12: Discovery or management of network topologies
- H04L 41/0853: by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
- H04L 43/10: Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

The present invention provides a system for managing a complex, the system comprising a discovery and monitoring subsystem for determining an operational model of the complex; a reference model store subsystem for storing and retrieving one or more reference models; a reference model transcription subsystem for providing a reference model of the complex; a reference model generation subsystem for modifying the reference model via inputs from an administrative client; a model comparator subsystem for providing a composite model; a reference model update subsystem for allowing the administrative client to select features of the current operational model to be incorporated into the reference model; a nonconformance visualization subsystem for providing a visual display of the composite model; a conformance monitoring subsystem for providing a predetermined action if the composite model indicates that the operational model does not conform with the reference model; a change procedure generator subsystem for providing a procedure describing one or more changes required to transform a complex as represented by the antecedent reference model into a complex as represented by a proposed reference model; and a change automation subsystem for implementing the one or more changes required to transform the complex as represented by the operational model into the complex as represented by a proposed reference model.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-70. (canceled)

### Claim 71

A method of managing a complex, the method comprising the steps of:
determining an operational model of the complex;
determining a reference model of the complex;
comparing the operational model and the reference model and providing a composite model; and
providing a predetermined action if the composite model indicates that the operational model does not conform with the reference model.

### Claim 72 (depends on 71)

The method of claim 71, further comprising the step of storing the reference model and allowing its subsequent retrieval.

### Claim 73 (depends on 71)

The method of claim 71, further comprising the step of modifying the reference model via inputs from an administrative client.

### Claim 74 (depends on 71)

The method of claim 71, further comprising the step of allowing the administrative client to select a current operational model to be the reference model.

### Claim 75 (depends on 71)

The method of claim 71, further comprising the step of providing a visual display of the composite model.

### Claim 76 (depends on 71)

The method of claim 71, further comprising the steps of:
providing a change procedure describing one or more changes required to transform a complex as represented by the current reference model into a complex as represented by the proposed reference model; and
implementing the one or more changes required to transform the complex as represented by the operational model into the complex as represented by the proposed reference model.

### Claim 77 (depends on 72)

The method of claim 72, wherein the reference model is stored as a file within a computer system.

### Claim 78 (depends on 73)

The method of claim 73, wherein the administrative client is a human administrator.

### Claim 79 (depends on 73)

The method of claim 73, wherein the administrative client is a computer program.

### Claim 80 (depends on 73)

The method of claim 73, wherein the step of modifying the reference model via inputs from an administrative client further comprises modifying the reference model via inputs from a keyboard or a mouse.

### Claim 81 (depends on 73)

The method of claim 73, wherein the step of modifying the reference model via inputs from an administrative client further comprises modifying the reference model via inputs from computer program.

### Claim 82 (depends on 73)

The method of claim 73, wherein the step of modifying the reference model via inputs from an administrative client further comprises modifying the reference model by means of an application program interface.

### Claim 83 (depends on 75)

The method of claim 75, wherein the step of providing a visual display of the composite model further comprises providing a visual display of the composite model on a computer monitor.

### Claim 84 (depends on 71)

The method of claim 71, wherein the predetermined action comprises an alarm indication.

### Claim 85 (depends on 71)

The method of claim 71, wherein the predetermined action comprises sending an event notification to a computer program.

### Claim 86 (depends on 71)

The method of claim 71, wherein the predetermined action comprises sending an electronic mail message.

### Claim 87 (depends on 76)

The method of claim 76, wherein steps of implementing changes to the complex further comprises implementing changes to the complex by use of a computer program.

### Claim 88 (depends on 76)

The method of claim 76, wherein steps of implementing changes to the complex further comprises implementing changes to the complex use human administrator.

### Claim 89 (depends on 71)

The method of claim 71, wherein the complex comprises one or more computer networks.